Optimising sodium incorporation into potassium-activated metakaolin-based alkali-activated materials

Chaerun, R. I.; Sato, Junya; Hiraki, Yoshihisa; Yoshida, Yukihiko; Sato, Tsutomu*; Osugi, Takeshi

Construction and Building Materials, 500, p.144270_1 - 144270_10, 2025/11

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2025.144270

Alkali-activated materials (AAMs), particularly those derived from metakaolin, have gained significant attention as sustainable binders for hazardous waste immobilisation, owing to their dense microstructure and chemical durability. Their amorphous aluminosilicate framework enables effective encapsulation of hazardous materials and reduces environmental risks. However, maintaining the stability of this amorphous network is challenging, particularly when sodium (Na)-rich precursors are used, as excess Na) promotes crystallisation and compromises matrix integrity. This study systematically investigates the influence of Na) concentration on the structural stability of metakaolin-based AAMs activated primarily with potassium (K)). The objective is to identify the threshold Na incorporation level that preserves the amorphous structure and maintains chemical stability. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Raman spectroscopy, and thermodynamic modelling were employed to examine the structural evolution of K-AAMs across a range of Na:K molar ratios. The results reveal that higher Na:K ratios induce nanopore formation and early crystallisation of Na-rich zeolitic phases, which can reduce matrix stability. In contrast, an optimal Na:K ratio was identified that maintains the amorphous network and preserves the aluminosilicate framework. These findings provide valuable insights into optimising K-AAMs for advanced, durable waste encapsulation technologies.

Discrimination of disposal-restricted materials in waste containers by nondestructive testing and image analysis with high-energy X-ray computed tomography

Murakami, Masashi; Yoshida, Yukihiko; Nango, Nobuhito*; Kubota, Shogo*; Kurosawa, Takuya*; Sasaki, Toshiki

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 62(7), p.650 - 661, 2025/07

https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2025.2460526

Fundamental research of X-ray absorption imaging for elemental identification using a secondary target

Nakae, Masanori*; Matsuyama, Tsugufumi*; Murakami, Masashi; Yoshida, Yukihiko; Machida, Masahiko; Tsuji, Koichi*

Advances in X-Ray Chemical Analysis, Japan, 54, p.89 - 99, 2023/03

Fundamental research on X-ray absorption imaging for elemental identification was studied. A secondary target was applied to obtain X-ray absorption images above and below the X-ray absorption edge of the target element. X-rays from an X-ray tube were irradiated to the secondary target, where the characteristic X-rays were emitted that were irradiated to the sample. X-ray absorption images were acquired with an exposure time of a few seconds with an X-ray camera. In this technique, it is difficult to change the energy of X-rays as we want, however we can apply this technique for imaging the specific element. Metal foil sample composed of Al, Cu, and Ni was analyzed. To obtain an X-ray elemental image of Ni, two X-ray absorption images were taken using the X-rays above and below the Ni K-edge. X-rays of Cu K and Zn K were prepared by using Cu and Zn plates as the secondary target. Finally, the Ni elemental image was obtained by subtracting two images. Furthermore, the X-ray camera had a function of setting critical energies for imaging, thus it was demonstrated that an X-ray elemental image of Ni was obtained using a single secondary target without changing the secondary target.

Spectrum prediction in X-ray fluorescence analysis using Bayesian estimation

Matsuyama, Tsugufumi*; Nakae, Masanori*; Murakami, Masashi; Yoshida, Yukihiko; Machida, Masahiko; Tsuji, Koichi*

Spectrochimica Acta, Part B, 199, p.106593_1 - 106593_6, 2023/01

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sab.2022.106593

Basic policy for rational measures of radioactive waste processing and disposal; Results of studies for acceleration of waste processing

Nakagawa, Akinori; Oyokawa, Atsushi; Murakami, Masashi; Yoshida, Yukihiko; Sasaki, Toshiki; Okada, Shota; Nakata, Hisakazu; Sugaya, Toshikatsu; Sakai, Akihiro; Sakamoto, Yoshiaki

JAEA-Technology 2021-006, 186 Pages, 2021/06

JAEA-Technology-2021-006.pdf:54.45MB

Radioactive wastes generated from R&D activities have been stored in Japan Atomic Energy Agency. In order to reduce the risk of taking long time to process legacy wastes, countermeasures for acceleration of waste processing and disposal were studied. Work analysis of waste processing showed bottleneck processes, such as evaluation of radioactivity concentration, segregation of hazardous and combustibles materials. Concerning evaluation of radioactivity concentration, a radiological characterization method using a scaling factor and a nondestructive gamma-ray measurement should be developed. The number of radionuclides that are to be selected for the safety assessment of the trench type disposal facility can decrease using artificial barriers. Hazardous materials, will be identified using records and nondestructive inspection. The waste identified as hazardous will be unpacked and segregated. Preliminary calculations of waste acceptance criteria of hazardous material concentrations were conducted based on environmental standards in groundwater. The total volume of the combustibles will be evaluated using nondestructive inspection. The waste that does not comply with the waste acceptance criteria should be mixed with low combustible material waste such as dismantling concrete waste in order to satisfy the waste acceptance criteria on a disposal facility average. It was estimated that segregation throughput of compressed waste should be increased about 5 times more than conventional method by applying the countermeasures. Further study and technology development will be conducted to realize the plan.

Time-of-flight elastic and inelastic neutron scattering studies on the localized 4d electron layered perovskite LaMoO

Iida, Kazuki*; Kajimoto, Ryoichi; Mizuno, Yusuke*; Kamazawa, Kazuya*; Inamura, Yasuhiro; Hoshikawa, Akinori*; Yoshida, Yukihiko*; Matsukawa, Takeshi*; Ishigaki, Toru*; Kawamura, Yukihiko*; et al.

Journal of the Physical Society of Japan, 86(6), p.064803_1 - 064803_6, 2017/06

https://doi.org/10.7566/JPSJ.86.064803

Fundamental study for elemental identification method by X-ray absorption imaging using a secondary target

Nakae, Masanori*; Matsuyama, Tsugufumi*; Murakami, Masashi; Yoshida, Yukihiko; Machida, Masahiko; Ueda, Akihiko; Sasaki, Toshiki; Tsuji, Koichi*

no journal, , 

X-ray absorption imaging is a technique in which samples are irradiated with X-rays and the transmitted X-rays are detected by an X-ray camera. Although this method is non-destructive and fast, X-ray cameras generally do not have energy resolution and cannot identify elements. Recently, an X-ray imaging method has been reported to use synchrotron radiation to image the elemental distribution using X-rays with energy around the absorption edge, and analyze the difference between the images. However, it is difficult to change the energy of X-rays in a laboratory. In this study, we studied the method for visualization of only the target element even in the laboratory by using a secondary target and an X-ray filter.

Research and development on preceding processing methods for contaminated water management waste at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, 48; Study of Unified Leaching Test for Cement, Glass, and Slag Solidified Body

Takahashi, Yuta; Matsumoto, Saori; Taniguchi, Takumi; Kuroki, Ryoichiro; Okada, Takashi; Yoshida, Yukihiko; Osugi, Takeshi

no journal, , 

no abstracts in English

Research and development on preceding processing methods for contaminated water management waste at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, 45; Investigation of simple evaluation methods of hydrogen gas generation for the purpose of establishing a feasibility test method for room temperature solidification

Shimizu, Koki; Kuramochi, Ryo*; Enomoto, Mayu*; Matsumoto, Saori; Taniguchi, Takumi; Kuroki, Ryoichiro; Okada, Takashi; Yoshida, Yukihiko; Osugi, Takeshi

no journal, , 

no abstracts in English

Research and development on preceding processing methods for contaminated water management waste at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, 50; Evaluation of long-term alteration and acceleration of cement or Alkali Activated Material solidified body promoted by heat cureing and accelerated carbonation

Sakamoto, Ryo*; Kaneda, Yoshihisa*; Kobayashi, Yutaro*; Haga, Kazuko*; Taniguchi, Takumi; Kuroki, Ryoichiro; Okada, Takashi; Yoshida, Yukihiko; Osugi, Takeshi

no journal, , 

no abstracts in English